Traffic signal for motor vehicles



Jan. I, 1929.

H. W. BATCHELLER TRAFFIC SIGNAL FOR MOTOR VEHICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed March 21, 1925 Jan. 1, 1929.

1,697,586 H. w. BATCHELLER TRAFFIC SIGNAL FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed March21, 1925 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 y J v Patented Jan. 1, 1929.

UNITED STATES (PATENT OFFICE. v

HUGH W. BATGHELLER, 0F WINO OSKI, VERMONT, ASSIGN OR TO BOJ' ACMANUFACTUR- ING 00., INC., OF WINOOSKI, VERMONT, A CORPORATION OFVERMONT.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

Application filed March 21, 1925. Serial No. 17,218.

and to otherwise operate the vehicle, the signal including a flashingmechanism or element causing a lamp or lamps lighted through theinstrumentality of the control element, to flash or wink, and thus givea more distinctive indication than a lamp emitting a steady light.

Otherobjects will hereinafter appear.

Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specificationFigures 1 and 2 are, respectlvely, a plan and a side view, showing thecontrol element secured to a steering column.

Figure 3 is a side View, showing the control element removed from thecasing.

Figure 4 is a section online 4-4; of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-,5 of Figure 3.

Figure Figure 3.

Figure 7- is a perspective view of the cyl1nder, constituting a part ofthe control element. e

Figures 7 and 7 are fragmentary sideviews, showing the cylinder indiflerent positions.

Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11 are diagrammatic views.

Figure 12 isa side view, showing-a portion of a motor vehicle equippedwith a trafiic signal embodying the invention and a diagram ofthecircuit connections.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of thefigures.

12 designates a cylindrical casing, fixed to the steering column A of amotor vehicle, or to any other suitable support adjacent to the driversstation. In this instance, the casing is provided with a forked arm 13,to

6 is a section on line 6-6 of which are fixed by screws let a metalstrap 15, the arm and strap-embracing the steering column. Y

The casing contains a control element Which includes, first, a ringcasing and provided with radially arranged contact pins 17,

of conducting metal, arranged as shown by Figure 5; and secondly, acircuit-closing and breaking cylinder, shown separately by Figure 7,fitted to turn and move endwise in the bore of the insulating ring.

The cylinder is composed of end heads 18 and 19, and a compositeintermediate portion, the periphery of which includes two parallelzones. The zone shown by Figure 5 is composed of members 20, 20 of.conducting metal, such as brass, and members 21, 21 of insulatingmaterial, as vulcanized fiber, alternating with the members 20, 20

Thezone shown by Figure 6., is composed of conducting members 20, 20,and members 21, 21 of insulating material. The members of each zone havearcuate outer surfaces, alternating with each other. The insulatingmembers inthe zone shown by Figure 5, are of different lengths, whilethose in the zone shown by Figure 6 are of equal length, the conductingmembers in each zone filling the spaces between the insulating members.

The radial conducting pins 17 are movable endwise in orifices in theinsulating ring 16, and are all in the same plane, and are pressedinward against the cylinder by springs 23, connected with binding-posts24 (Figure 3) fixed to one end of the ring.

The cylinder is fixed to a rod 25, whereby it may be turned and movedendwise in the ring 16, the rod passing through a guide 26 (Figure 2) onthe casing, and being provided with a knurled head or handle 27, wherebyit may be manipulated. The cylinder head 18 is provided with recesses 28(Figures 1 and 7), each having in its bottom end notches 29, 29, and anintermediate notch 30, said notches being adapted to be engaged bydetentpins 31 (Figure 4) movable in radial bushings 32 in the insulatingring 16, and pressed inward by spring 33, attached by a screw 34 to thering.

\Vhen the detent pins engage end notches 29, the cylinder is prevented,by the recess, from moving endwise, as indicated by Figure 7 and issemi-positively confined against rotation. Theintermediate notches areelongated, and extend into slots 30 in the head 18, as shown by Figures7, 7 and 7 so that when the detent pins engage these notches, thecylinder is adapted to have a limited e'ndwise movement to the positionshown by Figure 7.

When the cylinder is confined against endwise movement, the zone shownby Figure 5, is in position to cooperate with the conducting pins17,'and when the cylinder is moved endwise, as shown by Figure 7 thezone shown by Figure 6 is in position to cooperate with the conductingpin,the cooperation in each case being as hereinafter described.

When the detent pins enter the slots 30* the cylinder is positivelyconfined against rotation by the slots.

Enclosed in a casing (Figure 12), fixed to any suitable part of thevehicle, are 1ncandescent electric signal lamps, controlled by theabove-described control element. Two lamps 36 and: 37 are employed inthis instance, these being visible through lenses with which the casing35 is provided." The lamps and the conducting pins .17 of the controlelement, are included in a steady light circuit, and in a flashing lightsystem including a circuit, which is alternately closed and broken bysuitable mechanism in acasing-38, to cause a flashing or winking light.These circuits and the casing of the mechanism of the flashing systemare shown diagrammatically by FigureS, 9, 10 and 11.

To facilitate the following description of.

. the operation, I have distinguished the sevand 21 and 21 of insulatingmaterial is thus located in position to cooperate with the conductingpins, as shown in Figure 9. Electric current flows from the battery 70through the wire 71 to the contact pin 17, through the member20 to thecontact pin 17, through the wire 72 to the left hand lamp 36, and thenthrough the casing 35 and car frame to the battery.- This completes thesteady light circuit.

The flashing circuit is made from the battery 70, through the wire 71,to the contact pin 17", through the member 20, through contact pin 17and wire 73 to the flasher, then through the wire 74 to the contact pin17, through the member 20, through conta'ct'pin 17 through wire 75, tothe right liand lamp 37 which gives a flashing light, then through thecasing 35 and car frame to the battery.

After a sulficient signal has been'given, the operator returns thehandle 27 and the cylinder to the original or neutral position shown inFigures 1 and 8, so that the steady and flashing circuits areinterrupted and no current flows to the signal lamps.

If the vehicle is to be'turned to the left, the operator turns thehandle and cylinder to the left, and a circuit is made as shown inFigure 10, current flowing from the battery through the wire 71, to thecontact pin 17 through the member 20, to the contact pin 17 through wire75 to the right. hand lamp'37, then through the casing 35 and car frameto the battery. This completes the steady light circuit.

The flashing circuit is made from the battery 70, through the wire 71,through the contact pin 17 through the'member 20, to the contact pin 17through the wire 76, to the contact pin 17, through the wire 73 to theflasher, through wire 74, through contact pin 17 through member 20through contact pin 17, through wire 72, to the left hand lamp" 36 whichemits a flashing light, A

then through the casing 35 and car frameto the battery. i

After a suficient signal has been thus given, the operator returns thehandle and cylinder to the neutral position shown in Figures 1 and 8.

If the vehicle is to be brought to a stop, the operator retracts thehandle and cylinder, the detent pins 31 sliding in the elongated notches31 of the cylinder, so that the zone composed of the conducting members"20,' 20, and insulating members 21, 21 is in position to cooperate withthe conducting pins, as shown in Fi re 11. The circuit'is made from thebattery 70, throu 'h.the wire 71, through the conducting pin 1 throughthe member 20 to the conducting pins 17 and 17, through the wires 73 and76 to the flasher, through the wire 74, through the conducting pin 17,through the member 20 to the conducting pins 17 and 17 through the wires72 and 7 5, to the lamps 36 and 37, which results in the emission of aflashing light from both lamps, then from the casing 35 and car frame tothe battery. 1

Figures 8 and -12 show the introduction of a brake switch 80, into theflashing light circuit. The switch when closed by the depression of thebrake pedal D, completes the flashing circuit through the left hand lamp36, giving warning by the single flashing light that the vehicle isslowing down by the application of the brakes.

A tell-tale lamp 81 is attached to the casing 12, and connected by wire82, so that the lamp will be illuminated whenever the flashing circuitis closed.

' A flashing mechanism or element such as hereinbefore referred to isdisclosed Patent 1,613,305 granted January 4, 1927.

I claim: a

1. A circuit closer for a motor vehicle trafiic signallingsystem'comprising a shell or casing provided with a plurality ofcontacts arranged annularly of the inner face of the casing wall, acylinder arranged within the casing and movable axially and 'rotatablytherein, two contact members on the cylinder insulated from each otherand spaced apart in thedirection of the length of the cylinder axis,whereby either of said cylinder contacts may be brought into operativerelation to the casing contacts by adjusting the cylinder longitudinallyin the 2. A circuit closer for a motor vehicle trafiic signalling systemcomprising a cylindrical shell of insulating material having a pluralityof contact pins extending radially therethrough, a cylinder arrangedwithin said shell and movable longitudinally and rotatably therein, saidcylinder comprising a shaft, a plurality of disks of insulating materialon said shaft, and a plurality of contact disks separated by saidinsulating disks and adapted to be severally positioned in alignmentwith the contact pins of the shell by longitudinal movement of thecylinder, and means for preventing rotation of the cylinder in the shellin' one of its adjusted positions.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

HUGH W. BATCIUELLER.

